Disposable cleansing tissue



Jan. 12, 1954- G. L. sTr-:RNFIELD ET AL 2,665,528

nrsPosABLE cLEANsING TISSUE:

Filed Jan. 27, 1950 Il' *III/Il I A Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE DISPOSABLE CLEAN SING TISSUE George L. Sternfield and Myron W. Block, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 27, 1950, Serial No. 140,879

42 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the use of a iibrous structure, such as a non-woven fabric or a high wet strength paper, which has been impregnated and laminated with a cleansing media.

In the case of surfaces which have been coated with oil, dirt, vegetable greases and the like, it is common to employ a cleansing powder and then abrade the surface with a damp cloth. The necessity of washing out and drying of the used cloth is generally considered to be an inconvenience, and is subject to mildew and mold growth upon periods of standing, which will produce an offensive odor. The use of a re-usable cleansing tissue, which may be re-used for a few applications and then disposed of, is considered to be of commercial importance. Accordingly, the use of a non-woven fabric or a high wet strength paper impregnated with a cleansing media, which is disposable and still affords a su- Derior cleansing application, is the subject of this present invention. In addition, it has been found that mildew and mold growth may be substantially reduced by employing a fungicide impregnant when combined with the detergent and abrasive cleansing media ofthe present invention.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to provide an improved disposable cleansing tissue having a detergent abrasive media combined with a fungicide retardant impregnated upon a fibrous structure, such as a non-woven fabric or a high wet strength paper which will be re-usable and readily disposable. By means of the particular construction and formulation set forth in detail in this application, it is possible to provide an emcient disposable cleansing tissue which will be substantially free from mold growth and mildew.

An object of the present invention is to pro- Vide a disposable cleansing tissue which has been impregnated with an abrasive and a detergent media.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleansing tissue of brous structure, such as a non-woven fabric or a high wet strength paper, wherein said structure shall be absorbent and still retain its mechanical structure in order to be re-usable.

A still further object of the present invention shall consist of a laminated and perforated Iibrous structure having a cleansing and abrasive media deposited between the laminated surfaces. Y

Other and further objects of the present invention subsequently will become apparent by reference to the following description taken in 2 conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan View of the essential elements of a cleansing tissue, partly broken away, showing the cleansing media, the adhesive impregnant and the fibrous structure;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view showing the impregnated structure as shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a plan View of a modication of the cleansing media of the cleansing tissue as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view, showing a laminated modification of the invention, wherein the upper and lower brous structures are of perforated construction;

Figure 5 is a plan View of another modification of a laminated structure showing a partially embossed upper fibrous structure partially perforated; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 4 showing the laminated structure, wherein the combinedcleansing media impregnant is between two fibrous structures.

Referring to the drawing, it will be noted that the essential elements of a disposable cleansing tissue comprise a fibrous structure H3 consisting of a non-woven fabric, which may be composed of paper, cloth and/or synthetic plastic structure which may exhibit high wet strength properties. Adjacent to the iibrous structure i0 is an adhesive impregnant i2 which may be applied to the fibrous structure in a conventional manner, such as by brushing application7 roller or knife coating, spraying, or other conventional methods of applying an adhesive impregnant to the surface of a iibrous structure. An abrasive cleansing media I4 may then be applied by dusting, screening, or other conventional methods for applying a dry finely divided media upon an impregnated adhesive surface. The fibrous structure l i) shall exhibit a high wet strength property, such as that possessed by a fibrous structure which has been treated by beater or tub sizing with synthetic resins, such as urea-formaldehyde or melamine-formaldehyde resins. Of these two resins, the melamine-formaldehyde is the most commonly used, particularly since it can be applied as a colloid in the beaters before the paper is made; while the urea-type requires application in the tub sizing before the sheet is formed. The wet strength treatment can increase the strength properties, after immersion in water, of the paper by almost any degree desired, depending upon the amount, kind and method of applying the resin. For the conventional wet strength paper application, the so-called 2% or 3 wet strength is usually sufficient. This means that when 2% or 3% of the resin by Weight is added to the base stock the paper will possess a bursting retention strength of 30% to 45% after 16 hours of immersion and the tensile strength is increased many fold. It is preferred that in the present invention the wet strength of the paper used shall possess a bursting retention strength of approximately 80% of the original tensile strength. It is desirous that the paper possess high wet strength and still not resist the penetration of moisture or grease. In addition, it is desirous to prevent the embrittleinent of the paper structure. The fact that the resin colloid attaches to the paper fibers makes "the paper somewhat more diicult to laminate Yor coat than untreated stock. We have found methods for impregnating the brous structure -iELin order to get good adhesion of the abrasive cleansing media I4.

The resinous treatment is effective on vmany forms of cellulose bers-kraft sulda groundwood and the like, although best results are generelly obtained from .strong pulp in the wet strength treatment. Virtually all wet strength papers used are made from .thekraft pulp, since kraft paper is of lower price; although, vegetable parchments, wet strength 'treated glassine and synthetic films, suchas rayons, cellulose'acetate, cellophane, ethyl cellulose, cellulose 'acetatebutyrate and the vinyl i'llms'rnay also be used.

The abrasive cleansingmedia Idof this invention shall be of the abrasive-detergent powdered type. This media Ul may be comprised of a detergent, such as granulated soap, trisodium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, and synthetic detergents, such as granulated"sodium lauryl sulphate combined with an inorganic carriensuccinic acid derivatives, amine derivatives, and the ortho-phosphates combined with an abrasive. These detergents may be combined with alkalizing agents, such es `sodium. carbonate, borax, soda ash and ammonium phosphate; and an abrasive material, such as silicon dioxide, nely divided silica, diatomaceous earth and combinations thereof. Various types o'f compositions may be used, and this invention shall not be restricted to any particular type of composition.

Typical examples are as follows:

Example VA Per cent Silicon dioxide-80 mesh 50 Sodium carbonate 321/2 Borax 5 Granulated soap 121/2 Eample B Per cent Granulated soap V2 Soda ash 3 'Irisodium phosphate 40 Finely divided silica 55 .Example C' Per cent Soda csh 87 Ammonium phosphate 5 Tricalcium phosphate v0.5 Finely divided silica 7.5

The abrasive cleansing media i4 may be combined with a fungicide that will retard mildew and bacterial growth. These fungicides are many in number and of various compositions. We have found that the organo-phenvl-mercuffrothing material of eifervescent composition,

such -as the alkaline metal and alkaline earth bicarbonates may be used; and it has been found .that these materials in combination with the cleansing media la affords a slight breakup of :the media i4 in order to expose and bring into contact the detergents as well as the abrasive materials, with the surface to be cleaned.

As shown in Figures l and 2, the brous tissue 10, r.which may be defined as a backing of nonwoven porous filamentous structure having a high wet strength property, may be coated with an adhesive impregnant i2, of the following cornpositions. The adhesive impregnant i2 may be divided into two classes: inorganic end organic. The inorganic primarily consist of silicate of soda in liquid form and the organic types may be considered to be of starch, casein, resin emulsions, Vsuch as, the vinyls, the phenol-formaldehydes, rubber emulsions and the solvent resin combinations, such as nitrocellulose. In eddition, we have found that pressure sensitive types of adhesives, such as chlorinated rubber and the vinyls are adaptable with Vrespect to this invention.

The fibrous structure ill should be first coated by either a roller coating process, casting, spraying, kniiing, screening or dipping with theedhesive impregnant. The fibrous structure i0, preferably inroll'form, coated with the adhesive impregnant l2 is then partially dried and then dusted, dipped, or sprayed With the abrasive cleansing media i4. Various production medincations of this process `may be used.

The laminated structures, as shown in Figures 4, 5 .and 6 are modifications of the form shown by Figures 1 and 2, In this instance, the abrasive coated tissue structure is then coated with another layer-of adhesive impregnant l which is of -similar composition to that of the impregnant |2,'and then a'second layer of the fibrous structure i8 is superimposed upon the impregnant i6 in order -to form a laminated structure. This process may be continued in order to form a plurality of laminated structures wherein there is a core of abrasive cleansing media i4.

In order to readily expose the cleansing abrasive rnedia M, the brous structures l0 and i8 may be perforated by various geometrical openings or `slots `2@ as shown in Figures 4. 5 and 6. These perforations 2@ are tc gradually expose the abrasive cleansing media Hi; and in addition, to alford a soueegee action upon the cleansing surface in order to partially pick up the excess moisture which may adhere to the surface to be cleaned. This abrasive cleansing backing shall be characterized by its re-usable properties, meaning from two to six uses and may be readily disposed after any number of applications due to its very low cost. In addition, the use of the non-Woven brous tissue i@ affords a backing having high mechanical strength which increases its re-useble qualities and still affords simplicity in operation as well-as a wiping action upon cleaning the surface in order to remove excess moisture. Various configurations as to design, color, and perfumed odor may be employed when impregnating and coating the fibrous structure lll.

Another modication of this invention is to form an agglomeration of the abrasive cleansing media I4, and the impregnate I2, thereby forming a composite adhesive abrasive cleansing mixture 22. By using the agglomeration, greater simplicity and reduction of cost are achieved in production of the disposable tissue. It was found that by combining the composition of Example A and a nitrocellulose lacquer in proportions of two parts of nitrocellulose lacquer consisting of about 5% solids and one part of the total composition of Example A, a satisfactory adhesive mixture 22, was obtained.

While for the purpose of illustrating and describing the present invention preferred embodiments have been illustrated in the drawing, it is to be understood that such variation in the construction and in the arrangement of the elements is contemplated as may be commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A non-woven abrasive cleansing tissue comprising a lower filamentous porous backing having high wet strength, an adhesive abrasive cleansing mixture adherent to said backing, said mixture comprising a synthetic resinous binder having a granular abrasive material and a synthetic detergent embedded therein, an upper lamentous porous backing having high wet strength overlaying said mixture and adherent thereto, whereby upon repeated wettings said mixture will slowly disintegrate and be gradually released through said backings.

2. A non-Woven abrasive cleansing tissue comprising a lower lamentous porous backing having high wet strength, an adhesive abrasive cleansing mixture adherent to said backing, said mixture comprising a phenol-formaldehyde binder having trisodium phosphate and a ne granular silicon dioxide abrasive imbedded therein, an upper filamentous porous backing having high wet strength overlaying said mixture and adherent thereto, whereby upon repeated wetting said mixture will slowly disintegrate and be gradually released through said backings.

GEORGE L. STERNFIELD. MYRON W. BLOCK.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 81,986 Crane Sept. 8, 1868 760,616 Darby May 24, 1904 1,631,757 Peck June 17, 1927 1,666,701 Hill Apr. 17, 1928 1,707,485 Kough, Jr. Apr. 2, 1929 1,723,560 Kuroda Aug. 6, 1929 1,878,250 Primeau Sept. 20, 1932 2,308,405 Tully Jan. 12, 1943 2,333,034 Oglesby et al Oct. 26, 1943 

